Local federal agencies anticipate little effect if government shuts down

April 7, 2011 at 8:03 p.m.Updated April 6, 2011 at 11:07 p.m.

Local federal agencies anticipate little affect, if any, of a potential shutdown of government operations if a budget is not approved by Congress by midnight Friday.

"We'll continue to operate business as usual," said Victoria Postmaster Ken Epley. "We're not affected by that as far as being open or our workers."

The Social Security Administration office in Victoria referred the Advocate to the regional office in Dallas.

"At this point we don't know," said Les Davis, regional communications director for the Social Security Administration in Dallas. "Checks will continue. What that process will be and which employees will be considered essential, we really just don't know yet."

Davis said Social Security checks are sent out each week and not once a month as in years past.

Though FBI officials in the Victoria field office would not comment on the record, they pointed to statements by FBI Director Robert Mueller before the House Appropriations Commerce on Wednesday as indication of the possible shutdown's affect on the agency.

"FBI investigations will continue unimpeded if the federal government shuts down," Mueller said Wednesday, according to the Associated Press.

Victoria's public radio station KVRT-FM 90.7 could take a hit if the government shuts down, said Don Dunlap, president and general manager of the South Texas Broadcasting System that operates it and KEDT public radio and television in Corpus Christi.

"Most public radio stations are dependent on some federal funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting," said Dunlap. "Those of us in the smaller markets are especially dependent on federal support."